The Federal Government has launched the National Guidelines for Public Procurement of Food and Related Services as part of efforts to improve nutrition, promote healthier diets and strengthen Nigeria’s food systems through strategic public procurement.
Speaking at the launch on Monday at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the guidelines as a landmark policy that aligns government procurement with national health, nutrition and economic development priorities.
Speaking on the theme, “Public Procurement of Food: Promoting a Culture of National Wellness Through the Food Value Chain,” Salako said public procurement should no longer be seen merely as a compliance process but as a strategic tool for improving health outcomes, strengthening human capital and driving economic growth.
He noted that the initiative reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s whole-of-government approach to governance, stressing that lasting improvements in public health require collaboration among the health, agriculture, procurement, nutrition and economic planning sectors.
The minister expressed concern over the growing burden of diet-related diseases, revealing that unhealthy diets account for about 7.2 million deaths globally every year. He also disclosed that Nigerians consume an average of 3.9 grams of sodium daily almost double the World Health Organization’s recommended maximum of two grams—while excessive intake of industrial trans fats and sugar-sweetened beverages continues to fuel cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes.
Salako highlighted government interventions already in place, including the National Guideline for Sodium Reduction, the Trans-Fatty Acid Regulation and the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax, aimed at promoting healthier dietary habits and reducing non-communicable diseases.
He also raised concerns about Nigeria’s malnutrition crisis, stating that nearly half of deaths among children under five are linked to malnutrition. According to him, about four in every 10 Nigerian children under five are stunted, while almost two million children suffer severe acute malnutrition annually.
Describing government as the country’s largest institutional purchaser of food and related services, the minister said procurement decisions have enormous potential to influence healthier food production, improve food safety standards and strengthen accountability across the food value chain.
He explained that the new guidelines provide evidence-based standards for procuring healthier foods by encouraging balanced diets and setting limits on sodium, sugar and unhealthy fats, while complementing existing national food safety and nutrition policies.
Salako also linked the initiative to the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative, noting that nutrition remains a critical determinant of health throughout life. He added that the government’s ongoing procurement reforms, including MediPool, are designed to improve transparency, strengthen supply chains and expand equitable access to quality health commodities.
The minister urged procurement officers, accounting officers and heads of public institutions to view procurement as a strategic governance function capable of improving health, education, productivity and public confidence.
He stressed that the success of the guidelines would depend on effective implementation, continuous monitoring and measurable outcomes, with the ultimate goal of ensuring healthier meals in schools, hospitals, correctional centres, military formations and other public institutions.
Salako commended the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Resolve to Save Lives and other development partners for their roles in developing the guidelines, calling for coordinated implementation to build a healthier and more productive Nigeria.
